suggestion for an affordable hybrid bike for a casual user?

[UEX]

Long story short, step son and daughter got bikes for xmas, would like to ride with them and poss a little on my own (im a gym rat first and foremost and ex strongman so will never be a true cyclist). Many moons ago in my 20s i rode a nice light road bike. Back then i dont think these hybrid bikes existed.

Now i live in the country and the lanes and paths i can safely take the kids on are not going to suit a road bike, but i'm reluctant to go full mountain bike, as at 37 yo, im not about to start youtubing mad downhill runs or doing anything remotely more saucy than 10-50 miles a week on a few B roads.

Its very hilly round here too so thats a consideration.

What could anyone recommend me sub £500 thatd be remotely pleasant to ride and own for this purpose?

TIA

 

[UTmaniac]

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...ke-2020---black---s-m-l-xl-frames-346198.html for wide (2"+) tyre clearance, but in 27.5" wheel flavour

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...n-mens-hybrid-bike---s-m-l-frames-229822.html for basically same as above but wide supplied heated grips and mudguards

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...s-hybrid-bike----18in-20in-frames-445471.html for 29"/700c tyres and a decent gear range due to 3x9, up to ~2" tyre clearance, at expense of a bit weighty (13Kg)

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...-bike-2021---green---s-m-l-frames-366230.html for a nicer looking frame, less weight (~11Kg), no idea what max tyre clearance is

A few hardtails slightly over budget showing some stock...
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/moun...in-bike-2020---red---s-m-l-frames-340550.html
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/moun...mountain-bike-2021---s-m-l-frames-365886.html
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/moun...bike---16in-18in-20in-22in-frames-448053.html (won lots of awards over last 5+ years)

I have a Marasa, partially from very limited choice last summer when I needed a new commuter, it's not bad but I'd have chosen a Boardman or the Bizango if they had been available.

British Cycling membership gives you 10% discount off cycling goods at Halfords.

 

[doodah]

Will be over your budget, but you never know second hand/a good deal. Boardman HYB 8.6 or 8.8 (I have the latter), only weighs 10.4kg and been an excellent bike for my first 2,000 miles. Only issues are very rarely wanting a gear in between/at either end and my sheer unluckiness with riding over glass (5 punctures since June).

 

[UTmaniac]

Will be over your budget, but you never know second hand/a good deal. Boardman HYB 8.6 or 8.8 (I have the latter), only weighs 10.4kg and been an excellent bike for my first 2,000 miles. Only issues are very rarely wanting a gear in between/at either end and my sheer unluckiness with riding over glass (5 punctures since June).

Have you experimented with fitting bigger tyres than the supplied ones?

If not, how big a gap do you have around the fork sides and top, plus around the chain/seat stays and seat tube (plus perhaps the front mech if it's like the horribly restricting design like on my Marasa with a good ~1.5cm+ on the rear of the seat tube)?

With Beavertail XL guards fitted, I can fit at least a 50mm slick on the front of my Marasa, but this afternoon I've found the supplied 40mm Vee Speedster touches the guard just before the seat stay clip joint, while I can very marginally fit the 38mm Gravdal by ~1-2mm clearance (without the rear Beavertail XL a 50mm slick fits by 3mm+).

 

[doodah]

I can read what you've written, but you have lost me . I will do some measuring later. I haven't tried larger wheels yet but by eye - it does look like it can take something a little bigger than what's on there (inner tube is 700x35). I have a cheap, after market strap around the seat pole, mud guard which isn't that good and definitely needs replacing.

 

[Daniel_5]

Hi,
I want to buy a hybrid bike for my girlfriend. We will ride in our free time on comfortable forest roads, lakeshores, bicycle paths, parks, in the city. The bike will be for leisure rather than intense riding. My girlfriend is of medium height, slender but athletic. The choice is so great that I don’t even know what key criteria to look out for. Of course, the weight of the bike is really important, but we don’t need anything special. By searching on google I found an article https://bikeblog.us/best-womens-mountain-bike/
Maybe you can advise what to look for when choosing a bike - brand, frame, weight, durability, convenience for optimal price?